Lis Smith, Eliot Spitzer Paramour, Will Not Be Bill de Blasio’s Press Secretary

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio—oh dear, first time that particular phrase has appeared on this blog—has not hired Lis Smith, she who burns most brightly in Eliot Spitzer’s heart, as press secretary. Quoth the mayor’s newly minted chief of staff: “Lis was contracted to work with our team through the transition. She did exemplary work and we are grateful for the support she provided. Now that the transition is concluding, she is returning to her work as a political consultant.” Before word (and photos!) of her relationship was leaked, Smith was long-rumored to have been top choice for the new administration’s chief spokesperson.

Alas! It would have been quite the political-communications coup were Smith to have made “dating Eliot Spitzer” palatable to the public in the 10 days or so between the revelation of their relationship and the commencement of de Blasio’s term. That said: would having the girlfriend of a prostitution-plagued ex-governor field questions about, gosh, anything from municipal sex scandals to Albany inner-workings have been incredibly distracting? Yes. But would the punning headlines thereafter have been tremendous? Yes. Yes, they would have. Lis Smith is not the only person with career changes afoot. Our deepest condolences to the New York Posteditor who had optimistically added the RhymeZone.com page for “flack“ to his toolbar.

On a related note: New York City mayor . . . Bill de Blasio. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio. More on this later.